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CC BY 4.0 · Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 28(01): e3-e11
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1777419
Original Research

A Comparative Study on the General and Otolaryngological Manifestations of COVID-19 in the Hospitalized Population of the Telangana Region During the First and Second Waves

Uma Pokala 
1   Department of ENT, Mamata Medical College, Khammam, Telangana, India
,
Shilpa Potnuru 
2   Department of ENT, NRI Institute of Medical Sciences, Vizag, AP, India
,
Sasikala Kanapalli 
3   Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vishwabharathi Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India
,
Agni Vishnu Sailesh 
1   Department of ENT, Mamata Medical College, Khammam, Telangana, India
,
Naveen P. 
4   Department of Pharmacology, Mamata Medical College, Khammam, Telangana, India
› Author Affiliations Source of Funding None.
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Abstract

Introduction Some common symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. But ear, nose, and throat (ENT) manifestations such as loss of smell and taste are also very common.

Objectives To compare the general and otorhinolaryngological manifestations of COVID-19 and to compare the treatments given and mortality rate during its two waves.

Methods This retrospective study was conducted on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cases in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Six hundred patients were included in the 1st wave sample and 516 were in the 2nd wave sample. The data collected included demographics, comorbidities, general, and ENT symptoms, need for ventilatory support, oxygen therapy, and mortality for both the waves.

Results Fever, malaise, and myalgia were more frequently presented in the first wave than in the second, whereas shortness of breath was more common in the second wave. In the second wave, a significant increase in anosmia cases was reported, whereas sore throat, nasal obstruction, dysphagia, nasal discharge, and sneezing were significantly reduced compared with the first wave (p < 0.001). The case fatality rate increased from 11.33 to 21.55% (p < 0.001) from the 1st to the 2nd wave. The patients who died in the second wave were younger than those in the first wave. Two doses of vaccination showed protection from the death over those not vaccinated and those who only received one dose (p < 0.05).

Conclusion Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) manifestations are very common along with the general symptoms. As anosmia and dysgeusia are early presenting symptoms in COVID-19 patients, all physicians should screen patients for ENT symptoms.

Keywords

COVID-19 - SARS-CoV-2 - anosmia - dysgeusia

Financial Support

There was no financial support for the current study.


Work Attributed to

Department of ENT, Mamatha Medical College, Khammam, Telangana, India.


Author's Contribution

A - Concept and design of the study, results interpretation, review of literature, and preparing first draft of manuscript. B - Concept and design of the study, review of literature, and revision of manuscript. C - Concept and design of the study and revision of manuscript. D - Concept and design of the study, results interpretation, review of literature, and preparing first draft of manuscript, critical revisions, and approval of the final version E - Concept and design of the study, setting of references.




Publication History

Received: 30 September 2022

Accepted: 28 January 2023

Article published online:
05 February 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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